Count Steza was perusing a document in his study.
A document about the Demon Hunter—Lann.
He wore a pince-nez on his face.
This type of glasses was different from those in Lann’s homeland; instead of resting on the ears, they were like a compass, clamped onto the nose by adjusting angles.
Frowning as he removed the glasses, this handsome and powerful middle-aged man murmured thoughtfully.
"Not normal...this mutant is not normal..."
For someone like him, whatever he wanted to know within the kingdom, he could always learn in great detail.
Even events beyond the kingdom, with the Niflgaard support to his intelligence network, he could generally get a grasp of.
Thus, even though the order to gather intelligence was issued in the morning, he had already obtained a moderately thick "book" by evening.
This was the detailed dossier on Lann.
This level of efficiency and result in action was considered top-notch within Temeria’s official intelligence organization.
And Count Steza was indeed utilizing Temeria’s official intelligence organization.
Unlike many who are far removed from politics imagine, the truth about this world is often more complex and absurd.
The political disputes between Count Steza and His Majesty the King were not as irreconcilable as most would think.
The fact is, whether it was the Count or the King, their orders were disseminated within the bureaucratic operational system of the entire kingdom.
Their political disagreements did not lead the Count to establish a separate administrative system to confront the King. How would that differ from dividing Temeria?
The form of power struggle between them was a battle for discourse and control over various bureaucratic departments.
Of course, bureaucratic departments should listen to the King, but the Count’s hereditary rights, funding, and blood legacy were undeniable.
A feudal kingdom cannot ignore these things.
Hence, within Temeria’s administrative system, there’s always departmental mutual disregard, even undermining each other.
This happened because the proportion of the King’s and the Count’s influence within each department varied.
This even caused internal conflicts within the same department.
The head of the department was the King’s man, but the second-in-command was the Count’s. What should be done when handling matters related to Niflgaard?
Do they really think a single word from the head can get rid of the second-in-command?
Throughout history, haven’t there been enough leaders overshadowed by their deputies?
In the end, they still had to bring out their resources, backgrounds, and intelligence to outdo one another.
Veltrest was a formidable figure, and even Steza had to admit this.
But Count Steza also knew in his heart that he would not be suddenly eliminated by the King.
Because he not only represented a power but also a certain ideology.
An ideology gravitating towards a "more civilized, more advanced" social system.
As long as he remained, the power brought by this ideology would coalesce around him, materializing and manageable.
As long as Veltrest occasionally released news of "suppressing Count Steza," the populace would believe the ideology itself was being subdued.
Set up a scapegoat, let this scapegoat represent an idea. Then triumph over this scapegoat equates to a victory over the intangible thought.
Veltrest played this tactic expertly.
But once he was gone, this ideology would instead spread wantonly due to a lack of leadership, and without a tangible target, it couldn’t be easily suppressed.
The individuals and forces gathered by him, attracted by the ideology, would also scatter like stars, spreading throughout Temeria.
Becoming the "toxin" in the giant body of Temeria... subtle, indiscernible, yet genuinely harmful.
It was precisely because of this peculiar yet logical political ecology that Count Steza could possess the power he had today.
In this magical medieval era, the relationship between those in power and their subordinates remained worthy of trust.
This world had companies and shareholding systems, yet at the same time, there was hereditary succession and sworn loyalty.
Count Steza used these social contracts to bind his interests with those of his subordinates, fostering mutual trust.
The most important among these was the genuine monetary investment in his subordinates.
Steza understood the importance of offspring to humans.
Every major holiday, he would gather his subordinates and their families for a reunion.
During this period, he would lavishly reward every child who studied diligently. He would encourage them, give them tangible rewards, and promise them a successful future as long as they excelled in their studies.
Studying law? Great! I just happen to have a spot in the legal department for you!
Studying business? That’s good too! The commerce department is in need of an intern.
Exceeding in martial skills? Even better! Several villages’ incomes have been allocated to you, with the hope you will become an elite knight, clad in armor, capable of breaking battle formations!
He also sternly reprimanded every subordinate’s offspring who were left to drift aimlessly.
He would tell them about the incredibly bright position and relationships he had prepared for him in the future, but if you fail to achieve them because of lack of progress, then you deserve it!
At this time, the subordinates would look at their children being noticed by him with immense pride and concern.
Every reward he gave would elicit applause, every criticism he uttered would provoke sighs.
Those ignorant and incompetent children, under the regrettable and sympathetic eyes of parents and surrounding uncles and elders, would mostly blush and then strive to improve.
Afterward, these noble and family business owners would be drawn closer to Steza!
His bloodline, the authority he currently possesses, the support he gains from the Niflgaard Empire... these assets, already extensive to an absurd degree, would only grow larger and become unfathomable under his operation in the future!
It is precisely because of this that Count Steza could swiftly extract so much intelligence from that damn muddy pit of Velen.
This is not all; more information is on its way.
But just the data in hand is enough to bewilder him.
Under the candlelight, Steza is examining the concise account of Lann’s experiences since his appearance.
His first appearance was being brought out stark naked from a farmhouse by a Demon Hunter.
Delicate skin, not seeing setbacks, frail and powerless.
Steza could conjure up an image from the words—a youth fallen from grace but once living relatively well.
Soon after, becoming a Demon Hunter, participating in tracking down a Demon Hunter mentor, working in Auridon, encountering man-eater cases...
One thing after another, briefly marked on a timeline, presented on paper.
A rough look showed no big deal.
It’s just rumored that Demon Hunters are trained from secret fortresses in the deep mountains and then enter the civilized world to find work.
But this seemed like a spur-of-the-moment, on-the-road training.
The noticeable dramatic nature is just that.
However, once these scattered incidents align on the timeline, things start to become abnormal.
This Demon Hunter named Lann, from an outsider who couldn’t even wield a sword, to becoming a Demon Hunter capable of single-handedly destroying an armed bandit camp... how long did it take in total?!
"Too fast... unbelievably fast!"
Steza’s murmuring tone was one of amazement but, more so, of desire.
He was eager to understand how this rapid progress, as though riding on a griffin, was achieved.
Could it be replicated? Could it be widely applied?
"Is it the Demon Hunter’s Magic Potion?"
Since Steza decided to investigate Lann, he naturally would not overlook the basic information of Demon Hunters.
Among these piles of data, there was quite a bit of information on the Demon Hunter community.
The Demon Hunters’ alchemical skills are something even Mages are curious about; Count Steza naturally sees it with a unique perspective.
"But this doesn’t add up. Less than two months... to have advanced Alchemy to this extent?"
He also had Bordeaux’s information, which depicted him as a barbarian not particularly skilled in Alchemy.
Steza chuckled lightly with interest.
If the reason was the Magic Potion, then Lann would be a genius in Alchemy to an abnormal degree.
If the reason wasn’t the Magic Potion... then Lann is completely abnormal!
The Count pulled out a document from the pile; it had the information on Auridon.
Interestingly, the noble hosting the dual-wheeled carriage race in Auridon was none other than Count Steza himself.
The village could be considered his private land.
The intelligence said that the Demon Hunter had a good relationship with the villagers, which offered plenty of opportunities for manipulation.
He had just lost a good dog, so why not use this as a leash to train a fiercer one?
The Count’s finger slid over individual information of the villagers.
But just as his finger was about to reach the village elder’s head, a young voice suddenly rang behind him.
"Ha... aren’t these my friends?"
Count Steza’s eyes, in the sudden shock, widened uncontrollably, his pupils contracted.
That noble and handsome face was pressed onto the desk by force applied from the back of the head!
His features were compressed, squashed by a pair of blood-stained large hands.
A silver Roaring Bear Head Necklace slowly fell into the Count’s restricted field of vision.
"To see traces of Velen countryside friends in such a noble place, should I feel deeply honored... Lord Earl?"